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Meribel kicks off the ski party season
If you're heading out to Meribel in the Three Valleys over the next couple of weeks, don't forget to pack your party shoes. Tomorrow, 13th March, sees the start of the Little World Festival, a new event masterminded by The Feeling, which runs until the 19th March.
The 20th-26th sees the return of Meribel's Altitude Festival, combining comedy and music, and with a great line up for 2010, including Al Murray, Rufus Hound and music from Newton Faulkner.
It's the first time for Little World and third time for the Altitude and both events promise to be fun, frenetic and fairly unique. Set in the magnificent Three Valleys with excellent skiing, both festivals are packed with afternoon piste performances, apres ski parties and evening entertainments.
It's a Little World
The Little World Festival has been organised by The Feeling who played their earliest gigs in Meribel, performing three sets a day in the resort's bars. In 2008 the band made a triumphant return to the resort, giving a free concert to around 6000 fans. That trip formed the basis of a live DVD, 'Come Home', featuring narration by friend-of-the-band Kiefer Sutherland.
'We organised that trip ourselves and it really opened our eyes to the possibilities,' says bass player Richard Jones. 'More bands should try doing things for themselves. This whole event is exactly the way we want it. We've really enjoyed pulling it together alongside recording the new album.'
Over the six days there are some 30 events taking place including concerts from Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Glenn Tillbrook and Graham Gouldman. The week culminates in a free concert on the slopes headlined by The Feeling and with numerous special guests. For more information, prices and full programme take a look at the Little World website.
Say it with Altitude
Now in it's 3rd year the Altitude Festival, in its own words, is "a festival packed with hilarious comedy talent performing in a fantastic skiers paradise. They will be joined by the best DJ’s and musicians both home grown and internationally renowned. Altitude is the only bilingual comedy event in Europe."
The event takes places at various venues throughout the resort, from small intimate bars to the Meribel Auditorium. Artists include Four Poofs and a Piano, Rich Hall, Al Murray, Rufus Hound and of course Altitude regular and co-founder Marcus Brigstocke.
The Altitude Festival has also partnered with mountain riders with the aim of making the festival carbon neutral and raising awareness of global warming. For full details of events, venues and prices can be found at www.altitudefestival.com.
If you're looking for somewhere to stay to enjoy the festivities take a look at our Meribel section on Chalets Direct. Some of the current deals on offer include; Chalet Madeleine - free tickets for the Altitude Festival when you book your holiday there; 5 nights catered in La Grange a Charlotte from 22nd – 27th March, with free airport transfers; luxury catered chalet discounts for 21st – 28th March. For more Meribel offers look at our Promotions page.
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Chalets Direct and The Ski Blog recommended on Simonseeks.com
We’re extremely pleased to have useful sites to visit before booking a ski trip.
Simonseeks is a website where a community of travellers, journalists and celebrities can share their advice and their enthusiasms – giving you the inside story on their favourite destinations. Amongst the celebrity articles you can read are Graham Bell’s guide to Val d’Isere and Tara Palmer-Tompkinson’s take on Klosters. Other celebrity guides include Cliff Richard on Barbados, Raymond Blanc on Provence and Dolly Parton on Tennessee. The site is the brainchild of Simon Nixon, founder of Moneysupermarket and Travelsupermarket.
As well as finding reviews on hundred of destinations you can also use the site to write your own travel guides and share your knowledge with travellers everywhere. So whether it’s cheap hotels in Paris to the best hotels in London you can upload your guide and help other travellers along the way!
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More snow!
Half term week in Europe is going out with a bang – as many resorts from west to east and north to south are getting some heavy snowfalls today and tomorrow. Alpe d'Huez is getting lots of snow as we write – take a look at the webcam - and snow will be spreading from France to Switzerland and Austria.
So whilst skiing out there today might not be the best, the fresh snow is a gift for everyone heading out tomorrow! Conditions now are excellent so why not escape the February greyness in the UK for the great outdoors, some fresh air and gluhwein.
We'll be publishing our next newsletter sometime next week with lots of juicy holiday ideas for the rest of the season – so watch this space.
If you'd like to make sure you get a copy make sure you sign up on our Promotions page.
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Glacier skiing in safety
Glacier Skiing Safety (full audio version) from Simon Christy on Vimeo.
The legendary Vallee Blanche in Chamonix attracts thousands of skiers every year. Starting high up in the Mont Blanc massif, with it's famous entry point at the top of Aiguille du Midi lift station, this famous off piste run is a mecca for strong intermediate and expert skiers. It is a 20km run which takes you through the largest glaciated domain in the Alps with a vertical descent of 2700m. It is a real opportunity to experience a high mountain environment away from the crowds, and one of those truly once in a lifetime experiences.
Glacier skiing is not without risk however. Chamonix-based mountain guide, Andy Perkins, and ski instructor, Simon Christy, have put together a 6 minute video aiming to inform skiers and snowboarders of the basic principles and what to remember when skiing on glaciers.
The video was filmed last winter on the Vallee Blanche and produced with the co-operation of the Chamonix lift pass company, the Compagnie du Mont Blanc. The video is being screened all winter at the Aiguille du Midi and the Grands Montets.
We think it's a great film, and we would like to urge anyone who is considering venturing into high mountain glacial terrain to book a local mountain guide – taking an expert with you is never a bad idea.
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Excellent ski conditions now available!
Following wild, wet and windy weather across the Alps and Pyrenees over Christmas and New Year – with temperature swings from -10 to +10 in some areas – winter has well and truly returned. Lots of snowfall arrived for the turn of the year, with many resorts reporting 20cm plus of new snow over the first January weekend. Temperatures are now set to plummet, which will preserve the new snowfall and help maintain the good conditions for skiers and snowboarders.
Weather forecasts are looking good too, with most areas due to receive some snow towards the end of the week and the rain-snow limit dropping to very low altitudes. The Netweather forecasts show snow coming in varying quantities across the board – from Andorra to Austria.
If you're in a resort right now – and the snow is good – why not post up your own resort review on Chalets Direct, so that everyone at home can see how good it is.
You can also post a photo and let everyone know how great the conditions are. Post your report on our Reviews section right now!
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A White Christmas forecast for the Alps and Pyrenees!
With a fresh dusting of snow over the last few days and a week of arctic temperatures, allowing maximum use of snow cannons, major ski areas across Europe are now well and truly open for the winter season and have welcomed their first influx of Christmas guests over the weekend. It may not be quite the bumper start that we enjoyed last year – but there is snow down to low altitudes. Snow depths are not great right now – but they rarely are this early, and new snow is predicted during the course of this week.
Last week's temperatures plummeted to well below zero in most resorts. This week they are set to rise and fall again, bringing much more precipitation along the way. According to Netweather the week will start off cold, with snow on Monday evening. Temperatures will then rise on Tuesday, and snow will fall at higher altitudes. Wednesday and Thursday look snowy/rainy – with the freeze level varying from around 1200m to over 2000m. Christmas day looks set to be colder and with a good possibility of snow in the morning. So from the Pyrenees to the Alps it looks as though this week will be a mixed bag – but the chances of snow falling on Christmas Day look good.
Whether you're enjoying snow in the mountains or in your back garden (or not at all) we'd like to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We hope to keep you updated well into 2010 of snow happenings, and bring you good tips and advice on enjoying the mountains. Merry Christmas everyone!
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Introducing All Mountain Performance
You may have noticed in the last week or so that we have been joined by some illustrious company.
All Mountain Performance, based in Chamonix, offers courses and training aimed at improving your confidence and technique both on and off piste, whether you are a hesitant intermediate or a top level powder hound.The school was founded in 2004 and has been garnering a great reputation for excellent coaching ever since. Its two directors, Mark Gear and Simon Halliwell, both English, successfully completed the arduous process required by French law to become fully qualified ski instructors. They are now part of a very small handful of English coaches operating in the Chamonix Valley.
So we're very proud that they have agreed to be regular contributors to The Ski Blog throughout the winter. The first AMP post covers the painful process of dusting off those ski legs and getting used to the sensation of having two planks on your feet again – timely advice for the large number of British skiers who will be heading for the hills and doing just that this coming weekend.
As Mark advises, start off gradually – "Its always best to start on an easy piste, greens or blues are sufficient –even pros don’t hit the blacks until dialled back in!".
Throughout the winter All Mountain performance offer courses for intermediates upwards – from taster weekends to 5 day courses for intermediates to experts. So if you're keen to take your first turns in powder, or to perfect your powder skiing and discover some of the legendary terrain that Chamonix has to offer, with expert guidance and feedback, then take a look at what All Mountain Performance has to offer.
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All Mountain Performance Chamonix / Performance ski coaching
Get ready for hot ski tips this season from gurus of the sport!
Every month this Winter, top level British ski instructors from All Mountain Performance in Chamonix will be giving you 4 tips for better skiing. Simon Halliwell and Mark Gear will help you to kick your skiing off to good start with the first hot tips coming for around the 15th of December.
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Lots of snowfall in the French Alps!
After what seems like an eternity of waiting – big snowfall has arrived accross the French Alps overnight! On twitter, reports are flooding in from La Tania, Meribel, Chamonix, Tignes, Morzine and more – all saying the same thing. Snow is dumping and right down to low altitudes too.After a dry and mild couple of weeks, which saw the previous snowfall rapidly retreat, this precious white stuff hasn't arrived a moment too soon.
The forecast is looking good too – cold temperatures and more snow on the way this week, with the freeze level dropping to as low as 400m.
With many resorts hoping to open in less than 2 weeks it looks like all those snow dances have worked! -
Henry’s Avalanche Talk – Ride Hard Ride Safe live and online this evening!
We first mentioned Henry's Avalanche Talk last January. Led by Henry Schniewind, they are a group of ski professionals who provide useful advice and training in avalanche awareness and staying safe off piste.As ski and snowboard equipment has evolved over the years, it has become easier for the less experienced to get into off piste terrain and discover the thrills.
However, as Henry says, "90% of avalanches are caused by skiers and snowboarders themselves", so it is essential that you learn some mountaincraft before heading into the unknown. Knowing where to go and when to go there for example is key. Being safe is not only about keeping yourself safe but also making sure that you don't put your ski buddies and other skiers/boarders at risk.
During the winter Henry's Avalanche Talks take place mainly in Val d'Isere and Tignes. This November the talk has been touring the UK. Aimed at skiers and boarders who want to venture off piste and have fun, it is jam packed with tips and useful advice. Knowledge of the mountain and how to read conditions can only increase your enjoyment of this unique and fantastic environment.
So if you haven't had a chance to see the talk this autumn – and won't be heading to the Espace Killy this winter – there is a unique opportunity to catch Henry's Ride Hard Ride Safe talk online.
You can view the talk online at 19.00 GMT. It lasts for 75 minutes and is followed by a question and answer session. It costs just £7 to register for the event – a small price to pay considering what it could save! To register for this event go to: www.henrysavalanchetalk.com/live_webinar.html
There is also the opportunity to see the full online recorded talk – which is broken down into 4 parts of 40 minutes. This is the full talk and is more detailed with more video and can be viewed at your own pace at anytime. The full 4 part set costs just £19.50. Go to the website to get a taster.
